Tag making and reinforcing machine and method



Nov. 17, 1964 1. L. YOUNG 3, 7,

TAG MAKING AND REINFORCING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 13, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Irvin L. Young FIG. BY

Nov. 17, 1964 YOUNG 3,157,548

TAG MAKING AND REINFORCING MACHINE AND METHQD Filed April 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG, 5

IN VEN TOR.

Irvin L. Young United States Patent Ofiice 3,157,543 Patented Nov; 17, 1964 3,157,548 TAQ MAKlNG AND REINFORCHNG MACHINE AND METHOD Irvin L. Young, 2435 1 Shefieid Ave., Chicago 14, 111. Filed Apr. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 187,383 4 Claims. (Ci. 156-252) My invention relates to the patches which are applied to the head portions of shipping and marking tags for reinforcing the same, and more particularly to means for applying and securing such patches to the tags.

The prevailing practice is to make the tag-reinforcing patches in circular disc form, and to apply them singly from one or both sides to each tag, or to sections of a traveling tag material. This process involves one apparatus with dies for making the patches, and another to apply them.

In departing from the above practice, it is the main object of the present invention to make the patches and apply them in the same machine, saving space, time and labor.

A further object is to make the patches and tags from materials in traveling motion and so designed as to impose plain blanks cut periodically from patch material on tag-defining sections of the tag material in a manner to reinforce two tags at a time with the patch blanks.

A further object is to employ a traveling web of tag material in which sections defining the tags are positioned crosswise two-abreast with head portions adjoining the center line of the web, and provide a patch blank which spans the head portions of adjoining tags, such blank being divided into halves constituting the patches when the tags are cut apart.

Another object is to provide means for supporting the patch tape in a traveling path over the tag web, and other means for supporting such web in a traveling path of its own.

An additional object is to provide means for runm'ng the patch tape and tag web in horizontal parallelism, but at an angle to each other suitable for depositing a diamoncl-shaped adhesively coated patch blank astride the center line of the tag web.

An additional object is to design the aforesaid blank with a View to be divided into two triangular patches when each pair of tags with center-assembled head portions is cut apart, so that each tag will carry a triangleshaped patch as its reinforcing element.

A final object is to construct a machine for the above purpose which. has few parts and employs simple mechanical principles for its operation.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a top plan view illustrating the positions of the patch tape and tag web, and the formation of the diamond-shaped patch blank;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism applicable to the patch tape and tag web preparatory to the formation of a patch blank;

FIG. 3 is a side View of a feed mechanism for the tag web;

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 44 of FIG. 3, partly broken away;

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 55 of FIG. 4, on a reduced scale, illustrating a step-by-step feed for the tag web;

FIG. 6 is a section on the line 66 of FIG. 3; and FIG. 7 is a plan view of a reinforced tag produced by the improved machine.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawings indicates a suitable base at 113 for supporting a backing plate 11-as seen in FIG. 2these the punch assembly is slidable along the rods.

parts forming a support for the principal parts of the present machine. One of these is a bracket 13 secured in front of the plate 11; and the bracket carries a transversely-positioned guide 15 through which the patch tape 16 is slidable in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, the guide being shown more clearly in FIG. 6.

The patch tape 1% slides over an anvil plate 18 toward the left, as seen in FIG. 2, to the extent shown in the center thereof, whereby to project an end portion which is the patch blank when cut off from the balance of the tape. The punch for doing this is shown at 19, and is formed to cut a diamond-shaped patch blank 20 on the downstroke. The punch is carried by clamping plates 21 and 22 secured to a cross-head 23 by bolts 25 or other suitable means, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 1. The cross-head 23 has side tubes 23a receiving rods 26 rising from the bracket 13 (see FIG. 2) so that A suitable power drive (not shown) is connected to the punch assembly for operating the punch at desired intervals.

The tag Web 27 is disposed for travel underneath the anvil plate 18 as shown in FIG. 2, and such plate must therefore be supported from the sides in order not to interfere with the patch tapewhich is adhesively coated on the under sideor with the tag web. FIG. 6 indicates schematically that this may be done by attaching side blocks 28 to the guide 15, and securing the anvil plate to the blocks from below by means of bolts 30. It is of course possible to secure the anvil plate in some other manner if that is more desirable.

FIG. 1 shows that the tag web 27 is scored at 27a in order to define tags 2711 two-abreast, the head portions of the tags adjoining the center line 270 of the web. The lower part of FIG. 1 shows that a diamond-shaped patch blank 2%) centered on the line 270 is suitable for creating a triangular patch on each of the adjoining tags When they are cut apart along the center line 270. Thus, when the tag Web 27 is given intermittent traveling motion, the application of the diamond-shaped patch blank by the punch 19 in the position stated imposes reinforcing patches on two tags at a time. Owing to the centering of the patch blanks as, stated, the tag web 27 is oriented for travel at an angle to the patch tape, as shown in FIG. 1 and a suitable drive (not shown) is provided to induce the intermittent feed of the tag web 27 consistent with a corresponding feed of'the patch tape 16.

Since the patch tape must be coated with an adhesive substance on the under side for the securing engagement of patch blanks cut from it with the tag web below, a mechanism for feeding and coating the tape is provided, and will now be described. The patch tape, which may lead from a supply roll (not shown) is guided over an idler roll as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 before it is trained around a feed roll 37 to emerge in the direction of the punch mechanism. Thus, the idler roll is journaled on a shaft 35a carried by the backing plate 11. In respect to the feed roll 37, the backing plate carries a disc 39 from which sleeves 3% and 39b extend in opposite directions. The feed roll has a hub 37a and is chambered at 37b to receive the sleeve39a, with the interposition of rollers at 37c for bearing purposes; and the hub 37a carries the shaft 37d of the feed roll.

The patch tape is designed to be held firmly to the periphery of the feed rollover the course of contact with the same, in orderto avoid slippage and consequent variations in the patch blank feed. The hold on the tape is secured by a series of radially-directed fingers .6 which are pivoted to one face of the feed roll as indicated at 41911 and pressed by springs 42 to urge the outer ends of the fingers against one edge portion of the tape, as shown in FIG. 4. The feed roll has a tapered peripheral groove 37:: wedgingly seating the opposite edge I ftions adjoining the center line.

' roll 35 to the feed roll will not be impeded. The cam 44 is carried by a stationary ring 45 mounted on the sleeve 39a, as shown in FIG. 4.

According to arrows in FIG. 3,;the outer face of the patch tape 16 becomes the under side thereof on the way to the patch severing and applying site; and means are shown in FIG. 3 for coating such outer face between the above edge portions with an adhesive substance. The latter is contained in a chamber 47 of a vertical arm 49 pivoted to a pin 50 projecting from the backing plate 11. A nozzle 52 with a narrow horizontal slot 52a leads the adhesive substance from the chamber 47 to the outer face of the tape 16, and spreads the substance during the travel of the latter. A torsion spring 53 around the pin 50' urges the arm 49 to press the nozzle against the tape;

and a regulating screw 55 is threaded through the upper end portion ofthe arm 49 to meet a limit block 56 carried by the backing plate for. the adjustment of nozzle pressure in relation to the tape. FIG. 4 shows that the disc sleeve 3% extends through the backing plate 11 to journal the shaft 37d on the inside and receive a bushing 58 on the outside; and the shaft carries a ratchet Wheel 59 at its outer end; On the bushing is journaled the head 69a of a radial arm 66, the latter being shown in FIG. and adapted to receive oscillatingimotion from a source not shown in order to transmit a step-by-step rotary motion to the ratchet wheel 59 through the agency of a pawl 62; This is the action imparted to the feed roll for the periodical advance 'of the patch tape 16 to the position shown in FIG. 2.

Whenthe tag web has received a linear series of dia-. mond-shaped patch blanks on its upper side by the operation described above, it may be invertedand put through the machine a second time if it is also to be patch-reinforced on the other side. Also, a second machine may be provided to put perforations through the patched regions of the tags, as indicated in FIG. 7, after the tag web has left the present machine, with a third machine operative to cut the tags apart.

It 'is' now apparent'that the present tag making and applying machine does away with separate machines for 7 making the patches 'and'applying them to the tag material. In the present embodiment the patch and tag materials are in the same environment during traveling motion; and no dies are required to form the patches.

vThe blanks for these are plainly cut periodically from the patch tape at each stop in its intermittent travel; and merely running the patch tape at a suitable angle to the tag web will positionthe patch blanks in diamond 'form along the center 'line of the tag Web, whereby to define halves of the blank as patches for the tag sec The patch blanks are therefore created and mounted in a single operation and possible deterring influence of the nozzle 52. Also, the feed roll dispenses the patch tape, which is wet on the under side, in a direct course to clear the anvil plate 18 as shown; and the guide 15 keeps the tape from contacting and adhering to the anvil plate after a patch blank has been cut off by the punch 19. A machine is thus had which accomplishes the reinforcing of two tags at a time as each patch blank is attached to the tag material.

I claim: a V l. A tag making and reinforcing machine comprising means for scoring a tag material web longitudinally on a center line and transversely at intervals to define tags twoabreast with head portions adjoining the center line, and

other means for imposing an adhesive reinforcing patch blank on each pair of said adjoining head portions across said center line, whereby to define a reinforcing patch for each of the adjoining tags when these and the blank are severed along the center line.

2. A tag making and reinforcing machine comprising means for scoring a tag material web longitudinally on a a center line 'and'transversely at intervals to define tags two-abreastwith head portions adjoining the center line,

versely at intervals to define tags two-abreast with head portions adjoining the center line, advancing theweb in longitudinal direction, running a relatively narrow patch material tape in longitudinal direction in a plane'substantially parallel to the tag material web, cutting quadrilateral blanks periodically from the advancing end of the tape, and setting the tape at an angle to the web suitable to locate opposite vertices of said blanks on said center line, the halves of the blanks divided by the latter forming patches for said head portions. a

e 4. The method ofmaking tags and reinforcing-patches and'applying the latter tothe tags, comprising the, scoring of a tag material web longitudinally on a center line and transversely at intervals to define tags tworabreast with head portions adjoining the center line, advancing said web in longitudinal direction witha stop motion, a

running a relatively narrow patch material tape coated with an adhesive substance on the side facing said-.web I V .in longitudinal'direction with a co-ordinated stop motion in a plane substantally parallelto the tagmaterial Web,-

a cutting quadrilateral blanks periodically fromthe adcontinuously; and the patches will become defined where I the tags are cutapart. It is further noted that the patch tape receives a coating of adhesive substance on the outer 3 surface afterit mounts the feed roll 37, such coating being imparted by a unit which is adjustable to vary the 7 pressure of a nozzle which feeds the adhesive substance to the surface" of the tape; andclamping means are automatically .applied to the sides" ofcthe tape on its way through the coating zone in order to keep the tape vancing end of the tape, settingthe latter at an angle to the web suitable to locate opposite vertices of said'blanks' on said center line, and stamping the foremost'blank at each stop ofthe tape and web on the head portions occurring opposite the blank, the halves of the blanks divided by the center line forming patches for such head portions. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS are severed Gilbert et. al Nov. 24, 1908 Holland j Aug. 20,1957; 

3. THE METHOD OF MAKING TAGS AND REINFORCEING-PATCHES APPLICABLE TO THE SAME, COMPRISING THE SCORING OF A TAG MATERIAL WEB LONGITUDINALLY ON A CENTER LINE AND TRANSVERSELY AT INTERVALS TO DEFINE TAGS TWO-ABREAST WITH HEAD PORTIONS ADJOINING THE CENTER LINE, ADVANCING THE WEB IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION RUNNING A RELATIVELY NARROW PATCH MATERIAL TAPE IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE TAG MATERIAL WEB, CUTTING QUADRILATERIAL BLANKS PERIODICALLY FROM THE ADVANCING END OF THE TAPE, AND SETTING THE TAPE AT AN ANGLE TO THE WEB SUITABLE TO LOCATE OPPOSITE VERTICES OF SAID BLANKS ON SAID CENTER LINE, THE HALVES OF THE BLANKS DIVIDED BY THE LATTER FORMING PATCHES FOR SAID HEAD PORTIONS. 